What is Service Pay?
Service Pay is equivalent to the NS allowance, and is dependent on
your rank and the vocation you are holding. This reflects the
different responsibilities each NSman shoulders. If you are holding
a combat vocation, your service pay will include a combat
allowance.
Service pay will be given to you each day of your NS training
including weekends and public holidays. It will be pro-rated based
on the duration of your NS training. A minimum half-day service pay
will be credited to you for NS activities of 4 hours or less.
While service pay may not be an accurate measure of compensation
for your commitments towards the defence of Singapore, it serves as
recognition of your contribution to NS each day.
How is service pay calculated?
Example:
*Note that from 1 April 2010, you will receive an annual
increment dependent on the satisfactory completion of your NS
activity in the preceding work year (1 April to 31 March).
What is Make-Up Pay (MUP)?
MUP is a reimbursement for any civilian income loss you suffered as
a result of having to attend your NS training. Any NSman who is
gainfully employed or self-employed is eligible to claim MUP.
Please note that MUP is claimable only if there is an overlap
between your civilian working hours and the NS training. Any loss
of income suffered outside the duration of NS training will not be
compensated by MINDEF.
NSmen’s attention is drawn to:
a. Regulation 9 of the Enlistment (Loss of
Salaries and Wages – Reimbursement) Regulation, 1978:
- Authorised personnel from MINDEF may conduct
visits to companies to verify the make-up pay claims.
Employers/NSmen are requested to give access to the required
documents related to the claim.
b. Regulation 10(2) of the Enlistment (Loss of
Salaries and Wages – Reimbursement) Regulation, 1978:
- If there is any dispute on the decision given
on MUP claim, the NSman must notify MINDEF in writing, stating the
grounds of the dispute and supported by the necessary documentary
evidence, not later than 3 weeks from the date on which the
decision on the claim is given.
c. Regulation 11 of the Enlistment (Loss of
Salaries and Wages – Reimbursement) Regulation, 1978:
- Any person who gives false or misleading
information in respect of MUP claims shall be guilty of an offence
and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding S$2,000
or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to
both.
How is my MUP calculated?
Example:
Monthly service pay of an Infantry 3SG
$990.00
Period of NS training
5 Apr 2010 (0800hrs) to 11 Apr 2010 (1159hrs)
Service Pay
7/30 days x $990.00 = $231.00
Civilian Income Loss
5 days of civilian pay = $500.0
Net Financial Loss
Make Up Pay
$269.00
When you attend the NS activity, your employer deducts 5 days of
your civilian pay from your income for April amounting to $500.00.
You will then lose a net finance of $269.00 ($500.00 - $231.00)
after considering the deduction by your employer and your service
pay for the training.
How do I claim MUP?
You can claim your MUP through online submission at NS
Portal (www.ns.sg) or download the hardcopy claim
forms from NS Portal and follow the instructions.
What are my claim options?
(A) NSmen who are civil servants:
If you are a public servant working
in Ministries and Statutory Boards, note that your employer will
continue to pay your full salary for the duration of your call-up.
You will then not be paid service pay and make-up pay. However, you
will only be paid service pay if your call-ups are conducted
entirely outside of working hours.
(B) NSmen who are
employed:
Option 1:
Direct Reimbursement to Employers of Claims for NS Training
Scheme (DIRECT) [Optional Scheme for Employers]
Your employer continues to pay you as per your normal pay schedule
and reimbursement from MINDEF will be made to your employer. In
this instance, you are not required to file a claim.
*Note that this is an optional scheme for your employers, i.e.
you would need to inform your employers to opt into this scheme by
registering online at NS
Portal (www.ns.sg)!
Option
2:
Payment to the NSman
You will be reimbursed directly by MINDEF once your employer
certify and submit your MUP claim to MINDEF.
(C) NSmen who are
self-employed:
You can choose from the option that
suits you best. Note that once an option is chosen for a particular
training, it is irrevocable.
Option 1:
Income Tax Option
Your monthly income will be calculated based on your average
monthly trade (self-employment) income as shown in your Income Tax
Notice of Assessment (NA) for the year of NS Training.
As your trade income for the year will not be available at the time
of your claim submission, a provisional payment will be made based
on your latest available trade income. Thereafter, an adjustment
will be made when the trade income of the year of training is
available.
In the event is there is an underpayment, arrears will be paid to
you. If there should be any overpaid amount, it will be recovered
from you. Overpayments may also be recovered from your subsequent
MUP claims.
Your trade income for provisional payment and the final adjusted
amount will be obtained directly from IRAS.
Option 2:
Average Income Option
Your monthly income will be calculated based on your average income
earned in the 6 months before the NS training.
For example, if you are a doctor or a transport driver, you can
claim replacement fees incurred when you engage a replacement staff
to fulfill your duties during your absence.
What is the deadline for MUP
claim submission?
All your MUP claims should be submitted 2 weeks prior to your
training commencement to ensure prompt payment. If your claim is
submitted after your NS training, you will only be paid your
service pay first. MUP will be paid to you after your claim is
approved.
Please note that your MUP claim must be submitted within 3 months
from your payment of service pay. All supporting documents can be
submitted later but still within the 3 months from the payment of
service pay. Thereafter, it will not be accepted.
How will I be paid?
All payments will be credited into your bank account number
provided by you during your full-time NS or regular service. It is
therefore important for you to ensure that your personal
information is updated. You can update any changes on eSelf-Update
at NS Portal (www.ns.sg).
If your employer is on the DIRECT Schemes and wish to change their
bank account, please ensure that they log in to eServices at
NS
Portal (www.ns.sg) to update the company’s
particulars.
Please note that if there is an overpayment of MUP due to whatever
reason, MINDEF reserves the right to offset the excess quantum from
your future NS payments, which may be in the form of service
pay.
Payment Queries
If you have any queries on payment, you can get assistance from the
following:
Online: NS Portal
(www.ns.sg)
Email: [email protected]
Hotline: 1800-367 6767 (1800-eNSNSNS)
Fax: 6373 1464 (For employed claims)
6373 1499 (For self-employed
claims)
To recognise your potential and help you reach your optimal
performance in your NS training, MINDEF has initiated various
incentives:
(A) Awards
For more details on Awards, read more at: Recognition
(B) Allowances
Your safety is of utmost importance during your NS training. All
NS activities require adherence to strict safety regulations. As
such, we have specially arranged for you the SAF Group Insurance
Scheme. This is underwritten by Aviva Ltd and provides for you 24
hours worldwide coverage and it is comprehensive and kept at a
minimal cost.
All NSmen aged 55 and below are eligible to apply. Your dependent
male children are also eligible for coverage from age 14 days to
their 18th year birthday; and female children from age 14 days to
25. Under this scheme, you and your spouse can continue to enjoy
this insurance scheme up to age 70. This insurance pays for all
forms of death (except suicide within one year from the date of
commencement of insurance), total and permanent disablement and
permanent partial dismemberment arising from personal
accident.
Details of Scheme
(A) Fees and Sum Insured
Under the SAF Group Insurance Scheme,
you have the option of selecting the sum assured in multiples of
$10,000, from a minimum of $20,000 to a maximum of $600,000. For
each insured sum of $10,000, you only have to pay a monthly premium
of $1.28 and $1.00 for your dependents.
(B) Rebates
When you participate in this scheme,
you can expect to receive rebates for your annual premiums in a
“good year” (i.e. a year in which claims paid out to policyholders
are lesser than the total premiums received).
The rebates paid out in the last 3 policy years averaged at about
34% of total premium paid by policyholders. Based on the revised
rate of $1.28 and $1.00 for you and your dependents respectively,
this in effect means that policyholders pay a monthly premium of
only $0.85 and $0.66 per $10,000 coverage for you and your
dependants.
(C) Payment Method
Premiums for the sum insured will be
deducted monthly through GIRO.
For more information of the scheme, please contact:
Aviva Ltd Customer Service
Hotline: 6827 8000, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm (excluding
Public Holidays)
Email: [email protected]
All eligible NSmen will get a base tax relief quantum of $1,500
per year. If you have performed NS activities in the previous work
year (i.e. from 1 Apr to 31 Mar), you will receive an additional
$1,500, i.e. a net total of $3,000.
If you are a NS key command or a staff appointment holder, you
will be given an additional quantum of $2,000 in recognition of
your substantial contribution.
If you are an ex-NSmen or NS-liable ex-regular servicemen above
statutory age, you will be given a base quantum of $1,500.
Your parents and spouse (who must be Singapore Citizens) will
also receive a tax relief of $750 per year.
Only NSmen who have not committed any disciplinary or criminal
offences in the preceding work year are eligible for tax
relief.
This is a MINDEF initiative to recognise our full-time NSF’s
contribution to Singapore’s defence and continued stability. In
return, we offer an online preparatory and refresher courses to
them while they are in service to facilitate from full-time NS to
either join the workforce or further their studies. There are no
restrictions to the number of courses that each NSF can sign up.
All e-Prep courses are priced at an affordable rate, which are
significantly lower than the market rate.
Who is eligible?
All NSFs are eligible for e-Prep during their last 12 months of
service and continues to be eligible for this benefit within 1 year
after their ORD. They will be notified by post individually when
they are eligible.
Details of e-Prep
Every NSF will be allocated $350 worth of credits to subsidise for
the courses that he subscribes. As a guide, MINDEF will
subsidise up to 90% of the course fee, subject to the maximum
subsidy given or the credit balance of the NSF, whichever is
higher. For example, for a $100 course, the NSF will pay $10 and
MINDEF will bear the remainder $90. Note that any subsidies that
are not consumed within 1 year after the NSF’s ORD will be
forfeited.
Category of Courses
There are now 12 participating training providers, which includes
local Institutes of Higher Learning, and e-learning vendors. These
vendors offer more than 1,500 course titles in 3 broad
categories:
How to Participate?
Participation to this scheme is strictly voluntary.
All available e-Prep courses are published on the internet and for
convenience, NSFs can e-learn from the comfort of their own homes
or in their camps as long as there are internet facilities.
Military training and duties will take precedence over the
participation in this scheme.
NSFs can refer to NS Portal
(www.ns.sg) for more
information on this scheme. They may also view their credit
allocation and balance, records of their past attended courses and
the available range of courses.
All course applications can be done online and once the 10%
co-payment is made to the course provider, the NSF will be granted
access to the course material.
For assistance or clarifications on this scheme, the NSF can
contact:
NS Call Centre: 1800-eNSNSNS (1800-3676767)
Email: [email protected]
SMS: eNSNS (36767)
SAFRA is a network of clubs that seeks to provide quality
social, recreational, sports and educational facilities that will
benefit you and your families.
As a SAFRA member, you can enjoy discounts, privileges and
services. The offerings include:
SAFRA Cohesion Building Programme
(CBP)
The SAFRA Cohesion Building Programme (CBP) was formed to increase
esprit de corps amongst you and your unit. CBP provides subsidy
scheme that helps to defray the cost of organising unit cohesion
activities depending on the participating number strength on a per
head basis and the type of activity.
For more information on SAFRA packages or programme, please
contact:
Website: www.safra.sg
Membership Enquiries: [email protected]
Cohesion Building Prrogramme Enquiries: [email protected]
General Enquiries: [email protected]
(A) Medical Treatment
You may seek medical attention to any
SAF medical centre during your ICT. The medical officer may refer
you to a restructured hospital for further treatment if the
facilities or recourses are unavailable at the medical centre; or
if there is a need for follow-up after your ICT. Note that MINDEF
will only subsidise medical expenses incurred by you that fall
within the prevailing guidelines.
(B) Dental Treatment
You may only seek urgent dental
treatment at SAF Dental Centres for emergency dental conditions
that arise during your ICT. (E.g. acute toothache, acute gum
swelling, etc.)
(C) Medical Review – New/Existing
Medical Conditions
It is crucial that you update your NS
HRCs if you develop a new medical condition or if an existing
medical condition has worsened, which may affect your ICT
performance. This is so that arrangements will be made for you to
attend a medical review at the SAF medical centre to assess your
fitness condition for NS.
You MUST bring
along all your investigation results and memorandums from your
external physician or specialist during your medical review. You
may be given a medical certificate for ICT deferment, be scheduled
for a medical board to downgrade you if your medical condition is
significant, or be referred to a restructured hospital for further
examination depending on the outcome of your medical review.
If your medical condition is deemed suited for ICT participation by
the medical officer, you will then be allowed to attend ICT.
You and your families’ welfare is important, as such, the SAF
Personnel Services Centre (PSC) is here to manage and administer
your welfare benefits.
For more information or assistance on the available welfare
services, please contact your unit’s admin.
NSmen Asset Enhancement Schemes
Preferential rebates may be given to NSmen whenever the Government
introduces any asset enhancement schemes. Examples of NSmen Asset
Enhancement Schemes are the additional allotment of Growth
Dividends and GST Credits.
Compensation
(A) Service Injuries
If you sustained an injury during
your NS training, it may be considered as attributable to service
only when service is the cause of injury. If you sustained an
injury during ICT, you are required to report immediately to your
unit’s Medical Officer and unit S1. This is so that your unit can
arrange to attend to your injury, and document your injury
sustained in your medical docket.
Before MINDEF determines that an injury is attributable to service,
you are responsible for bearing all medical expenses. Treatment for
your injury must be sought at government or restructured hospitals
at your eligible ward and referred to by a government or SAF
Medical Officer.
In the case of permanent disablement due to service injury, a
medical board will be convened. Eligibility for disability
compensation will be based on the degree of residual permanent
disability as endorsed by the SAF Medical Board.
If your service injury requires continuous medical or
hospitalisation leave beyond your ICT period, you are eligible for
a stepped-down compensation as a form of ex-gratia payment.
Compensation will be based on your civilian pay or an equivalent
regular serviceman’s pay (whichever is higher) if you do not
receive any income from your employers. This ex-gratia payment is
compensation for your loss of income during this period. Payment
will cease when you are no longer on medical/hospitalisation leave
or when disability compensation is paid, whichever is earlier.
(B) Non-Service Injuries
i. Satisfactory Completion of NS
Training
If you are given medical leave for non-service injuries but are
able to complete your NS training satisfactorily, your medical
leave will be considered as part of NS training. You will be
eligible for service pay and MUP for the completed NS training
duration, inclusive of all periods of medical leave.
ii. Disruption from NS
Training
If you are given medical leave for non-service injuries and your
unit has disrupted you from NS training, you are eligible for
service pay and MUP till the end of your medical leave or original
NS training, whichever is earlier. The payment of service pay and
MUP from the date of disruption is made on an ex-gratia basis and
is restricted to the first medical certificate you submit.
iii. Deferment from NS
Training
If you report sick on the first day of NS training and are granted
deferment on the same day, you will not be eligible for service pay
and MUP for any period of medical leave. You will, however, be
eligible for service pay and MUP for the time spent at the unit to
seek consultation with your unit’s Medical Officer or to get your
medical certificate endorsed.